Shakespeare's Globe Center--USA: Center for Globe Research -- Pentagram design firm

Shakespeare's Globe Centre (USA)

Centre for Globe Research

Rebuilding Shakespeare's Globe

Construction Techniques

Thatch

In 1212 the first building regulation was introduced in the City of London and banned the use of thatch. The regulation was poorly enforced, and thatch remained relatively common in areas beyond the City boundary, such as Southwark, until the Great Fire of London in 1666. The new Globe is the first and only London building to have a thatched roof since the Great Fire. Whereas the reed for the first Globe would have been found locally, suitable reed for the new roof had to come from as far away as Norfolk. Thatching skills fortunately have never died out in this country.

Inset: Reed cutting for the thatch in Norfolk.

Lime plaster

Lime plasters and mortars are very uncommon today. Knowledge of their use and composition is derived almost completely for conservation and restoration specialists. The plaster is made from a well slaked lime putty, mixed with a well graded coarse sand and a cow hair binder. Laths are cleft from straight-grained oak, and are nailed to the staves at a close spacing. Lath spacing is a little wider than would normally be expected, because it is necessary to ensure a good coating behind the laths to maintain the fire performance.

Lime plaster is laid in a series of coats. First, a rough coat is laid onto the laths. Care is taken at this stage to push the plaster into the lath gaps. After the correct degree of drying, or more accurately carbonation, has taken place a second coat is applied to cover the laths completely. A final coat is laid onto this.

Lime plaster cannot be finished off with the float straight away. The plaster remains 'plastic' for many days and the surface has to be vigorously reworked, and cracks pushed out over this period. Choosing the right time to strike off the final finish is part of the plasterer's skill. Lime plaster can cure too quickly. The surfaces have to be wetted for up to four weeks. Steel floats can only be used with great care as they tend to pull the lime out of the mix. American tuck pointing trowels were used for the initial lath filling coat.

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Updated on: 1 March 2002